The presidency states that contrary to claims in some quarters, President Bola Tinubu’s visit to Saint Lucia is for strategic engagements, not a vacation.
Tinubu arrived in Vieux Fort, Saint Lucia, early Sunday, sparking claims in some quarters that the president had gone to the Caribbean nation for a vacation.
However, presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement on Sunday, described the claims as misguided, mischievous, and uninformed.
“First, from the perspective of the Government of Saint Lucia, the visit by the Nigerian leader paves the way for the rekindling of our ancestral bonds, igniting a new era of diplomatic, cultural, and economic possibilities between our nations,” he said.
“Like many Caribbean nations, Saint Lucia has a significant population of African ancestry. In the mid-19th century, a wave of immigrants from present-day Nigeria arrived in Saint Lucia, bringing cultural and religious practices that persist today.
“Citizens of Saint Lucia are excited that President Tinubu has chosen to visit the island. They long to strengthen their bonds with African nations with which they share ancestral links.”
Onanuga explained that the increasing level of global uncertainty makes it imperative for Africa and the Caribbean to deepen cooperation among themselves.
“Saint Lucia is the headquarters of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the gateway to the 15 CARICOM member states. The CARICOM states have a combined GDP of over $130 billion, a significant figure in South-South trade discourse,” the presidency said.
“In an era of global uncertainty, deepening cooperation between the Global South, particularly between continental Africa and the Caribbean, has become imperative.
“Nigeria and the citizens of the Caribbean have strong people-to-people links.”
He said, “Tinubu’s visit aligns with Nigeria’s Four D’s foreign policy framework: Democracy, Development, Diaspora, and Demography.
“As the presidency stated, the visit supports the African Union’s Sixth Region agenda, which identifies the African diaspora as a key development partner.
“Nigeria actively fosters cultural exchange through collaboration in education, culture, and heritage preservation. Our cultural exports, including Afrobeats, Nollywood, and literature, are already making a significant impact on Saint Lucia and the wider Caribbean, enriching our shared cultural landscape.”
